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From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2006 7:32 AM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“In 2004 Republicans won because
they did a better job turning out their party base than the Democrats did.
My guess is that turnout more than
voter shifts will determine who wins in 2006.”
(Michael Barone,
conservative columnist for U.S. News & World Report 3-20-06)
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
May 1, 2006
COMING EVENTS
Thursday, May 11 Congressional
Forum in
Tuesday, May 16 7:30 P.M. Clinton County Democratic Central
Committee meets
Saturday, May 27
Tuesday, June 6
Saturday,
June 17 State
Democratic Convention in
November 7, 2006 National and
State Elections
REPUBLICAN LEADERS
BLOCK
HEALTH INSURANCE
COMPROMISE
House
Speaker Christopher Rants (R-Woodbury) and House Majority Leader Chuck Gipp (R-Winneshiek) blocked further debate on a compromise
small business group heath insurance reform plan. House File 2790 would
have allowed certain business associations to group health insurance pools for
their members.
A bipartisan compromise was crafted to require the insurance Commissioner to
conduct from three to five pilot projects to test the effectiveness of allowing
business associations to form group health insurance pools for their members.
Opponents of the compromise,
including the House Speaker and Majority Leader, filed an
amendment to kill it by letting the pilot projects run permanently with no
limit on participants. After the defeat of the compromise killing
amendment, Majority Leader Gipp deferred on the bill without
allowing a vote on the actual compromise.
In an attempt to keep small business health insurance reform alive 40 House
members filed a new compromise amendment on Tuesday, April 18. Republican
majority leader Gipp and Speaker Rants are still
refusing to reschedule the bill for debate. (Reported by
Representative Polly Bukta in her weekly newsletter
April 20 from
COMMENT:
Polly has spoken and written many times about the Republican leaders in
THIS WE BELIEVE
(Taken
from the Clinton County Democratic Party 2006 statement of principles.)
We support all efforts to reduce and prevent the international
development, proliferation and use of nuclear, chemical, biological and other
weapons of mass destruction. We support
the international banning of land mines.
PRESIDENT PLANS MORE NUCLEAR
WEAPONS:
SEEKS RETURN TO COLD WAR NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITIES
“The Bush administration has unveiled plans to produce 125
new nuclear weapons a year. The plans include building a new nuclear bomb
plant at an existing weapons site. The multi-billion dollar proposal was
presented at a Capitol Hill hearing by the National Nuclear Security Administration
(NNSA), the semi-autonomous federal agency in charge of nuclear weapons.” (David Culp, Friends Committee on National
Legislation (Quakers)
April 6, 2006)
Following is a statement issued in response to the President’s
announcement:
We, the Sisters of St. Francis of
AMERICAN THEOCRACY
“Reckless
dependency on shrinking oil supplies, a milieu of radicalized (and much too
influential) religion, and a reliance on borrowed money –debt, in its
ballooning size and multiple domestic and international deficits—now
constitute the three major perils to the United States of the twenty-first
century. Despite pretensions to
motivations such as liberty and freedom, petroleum and its geopolitics have
dominated Anglo-American activity in the
“As a
result of the Republican revolution we have been saddled with enormous and
never-ending deficits, bloated government, egregious pork-barrel spending; a
gluttonous thirst for oil that our political leaders neither address nor
acknowledge; reckless and incoherent foreign policy; and intrusive domestic
policies that force all citizens, of whatever creed or heritage, into the mold
of fundamentalist Christian moralism.
”The
(From American Theocracy by Kevin
Phillips who is currently a regular contributor to the Los Angeles
Times and National Public Radio, Harper’s
Magazine and Time. He was an
official of the Nixon administration.)
ANOTHER WHITE HOUSE SNOW JOB
ThinkProgress has dredged up a litany
of damning statements byThe new White House Press
Secretary Tony Snow slamming the Bush administration. A sampling:
"George
Bush has become something of an embarrassment." [11/11/05]
"No President has looked this impotent this long when it comes to
defending presidential powers and prerogatives.” [9/30/05]
"The English Language has become a minefield for the man, whose malapropos
make him the political heir not of Ronald Reagan, but Norm Crosby.” [8/25/00] (About.com)
[COMMENT:
President Bush has done the nation a great service by clearly
demonstrating the importance of students mastering English, public speaking and
history while in school. Unfortunately
his “No Child Left Behind” law doesn’t accomplish
this goal.]
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 7:24 AM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
"Corporations
have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and
the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working
upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in few hands
and the republic is destroyed."
(Abraham Lincoln as quoted in a Molly Ivins
column 4-12-06)
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
May 8, 2006
CELEBRATE NATIONAL TEACHER DAY MAY 9
COMING EVENTS
Thursday, May 11 The Congressional Forum will be televised from
Tuesday, May 16 7:30 P.M. Clinton County Democratic Central
Committee meets.
Saturday, May 27
Tuesday, June 6
Thursday, June 15 4:30-7:00 P.M. Polly
Bukta’s Fund Raiser and Social
Potato
with Toppings Dinner at the
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN
FOR SECURITY FOR ALL AMERICANS
Young
Democrats who are working for Democratic candidates were very visible at the
District Convention. Some of them came
up with the above suggested slogan for the Democratic Party Campaign for 2006
and beyond. We have many statements of
our beliefs and proposed agenda in the platforms, but we need to tie it all
together under one impressive title.
Security can refer to many social and homeland security programs. If you have a better phrase, please let me
know.
REPUBLICANS BLOCK
INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE
The
Republican Party is vigorously opposing giving American workers a living wage
while pushing to extend big tax cuts to the wealthiest class. How much money does a person need while so
many millions are homeless and without adequate health care and education
funding is cut to a bare bones budget?
The right wing Republican leaders (zealots) have clearly established
their party as the Party of GREED!
THIS WE BELIEVE
We support
an increase in the State and Federal minimum wage to at least $8.50 per hour
and that it be indexed to inflation thereafter. (from The Iowa First
Congressional District 2006 Democratic Party platform)
DEMOCRATS INCREASE EFFORTS TO RAISE
MINIMUM WAGE
Ø Raising the minimum wage is a top priority
of the Ohio Democratic Party. The
Ø Democrats, big labor, progressive
religious groups and community activists nationwide have latched on to the
wage-hike campaign as a way to define their own "values."
Ø Public approval for a federally
mandated raise is at 83 per cent. Twenty
states already have set a higher minimum wage than the federal level of $5.15
per hour.
Ø Democrats want to put the issue on
the ballot this fall in at least seven states.
Ø The federal government hasn't budged on
the minimum wage in nearly a decade. At $5.15 an hour ($10,712 a year), its
value has eroded so much that the two million Americans earning the minimum
wage or below today can buy less in real terms now than at almost any time in
the last half century.
Ø Kyle Wangler
would be one of the beneficiaries. Now 24, he worked temporary jobs for two
years making $5.15 an hour putting bumpers on cars and washing hospital laundry.
A Sunday regular at
Ø Some economists argue that increasing
the minimum wage will lead to higher unemployment. Actually increases in the minimum wage have
resulted in higher productivity and worker morale.
Ø For liberal religious groups, the minimum-wage campaign is a chance to appeal to voters' spiritual values with a social justice issue. People of faith are very much concerned about the level of poverty. (Based on an article by Silla Brush for U.S. News & World Report 5-1-06)
DO YOU THINK
REPUBLICANS CARE?
v In 2004 1.1 million more Americans
slipped into poverty—now more than 37 million!
v A host of Republicans in Congress,
the White House and lobbyists are under indictment or investigation. (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee)
Class warfare? Bush’s
tax cuts have helped stimulate the economy. But they have also turned the
impressive fiscal surplus when President Clinton left office into a long-term
budget deficit now trillions of dollars, of which about 60 percent can be
attributed to the "Bush effect." These deficits are mortgaging
workers' future pay gains to fund baby boomers' retirement payments. (Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Editor-in-Chief, U.S.
News & World Report, 5-1-06)
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 7:34 AM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“The national Republican majority in
government, the country is hungry for change.
Democrats can change this country in November
at the polls and we need your help to build the campaign to victory.”
(Mike Milligan, Executive Director
Iowa Democratic Party)
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
May 15,
2006
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN FOR
SECURITY AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL AMERICANS
COMING EVENTS
Tuesday, May 16 7:30 P.M. Clinton County Democratic Central
Committee meets.
Saturday, May 27
Tuesday, June 6
Thursday, June 15 4:30-7:00 P.M. Polly Bukta’s Fund Raiser and
Social
Potato
with Toppings Dinner at the
Saturday, June 17 State
Democratic Convention
Help us expand our email list of
Democrats. Pass our newsletters along to other Democrats
and maybe they’ll send us their email addresses. So far the newsletter has helped us cement
our relationships with more than 200 party faithful by keeping them informed of
local Democratic events. All of our
events have been well attended. Our
support is growing.
THIS WE BELIEVE
We recognize that the United Nations has contributed much to our global security
through health, education, family planning, UNICEF and other programs as well
as by providing peaceful measures for resolving international conflicts. (Taken from the Clinton
County Democratic Party 2006 statement of principles.)
HALL OF FAME DINNER
Saturday,
May 27
FRONTIER
MOTEL
Reception: Frontier Atrium 5:30-6:30 P.M. Donation $10.00
We will be
serving a variety of wines from Jackson County, Iowa, beer and hors d’oeuvres.
Dinner: 6:30 P.M. in the frontier banquet hall. They will be serving family style fish or
chicken.
Donation: $25.00
This is the biggest social and fund raising event of the year for the
Clinton County Democrats. All elected
Democrats from County and State offices and Congressional candidates will be
attending. The funds help the County
organization promote all Democratic candidates.
For tickets contact any member of the Central Committee who are listed on
our website or call County Chair Jean Pardee at 242-8111.
THE BUSH TAX
PLAN: AN IRRESPONSIBLE WINDFALL FOR
BILLIONAIRES
Recently
the New York Times published an analysis of the 2003 Bush tax plan that
lowered the income tax rate on investments. Perhaps it’s
no surprise, but it turns out that the real beneficiaries from this tax rate
adjustment on investments are the extremely wealthy. The 6,126 Americans
who reported an income of more than $10 million in 2003 received an average tax
windfall of $500,000 from the plan.
Contrast
that to the effect of the tax plan on the middle class: there were over 92
million Americans who reported an income of less than $50,000 in 2003, and
their average tax cut was a mere ten dollars! This irresponsible tax plan is absolutely reckless—especially considering that our nation is at war
and our federal budget deficit is the largest it’s ever
been in history.
A press
release discussing the Bush-Republican tax windfall can be found on the Bruce Braley for Congress website, www.brucebraley.com.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BASHES NUSSLE ON “BRIDGES TO NOWHERE”
First
District Republican Congressional candidate Bill Dix has attacked pork barrel
spending in
Dix’s specific mention of the “Bridges to Nowhere” is
a direct jab at outgoing 1st District Congressman and Gubernatorial candidate
Jim Nussle. As House Budget Chair, he was credited by Rep. Don Young for
securing the funds for the bridges to nowhere, which would cost an estimated
$2.2 billion to build.
Rep. Young: “I would like to recognize the gentleman from
These bridges make no sense in transportation terms; one would connect an
Alaskan island with 50 residents to the mainland while the other would reach a
port with only one permanent resident. Nussle helped secure the billions
in pork barrel spending necessary to fund the bridges to nowhere, projects that
the conservative Heritage Foundation called “a national embarrassment.” [Heritage Foundation Research,
10/20/05]
“Jim Nussle’s history of wasteful spending for pork
barrel projects has led even Republican candidates in his own district to
attack his record,” said Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Mike
Milligan. “The bridges to nowhere are just another example of the fiscal
mismanagement that Nussle practiced as House Budget Chair. Iowans understand
the devastating consequences of this nation’s
deficit, so it is not surprising that Jim Nussle’s
fellow Republican would attempt to distance himself from the architect of the
largest deficit in
FROM STEPHEN COLBERT’S
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER
“Now, I know there are some polls out there saying this
man has a 32% approval rating. But guys like us don't pay attention to the
polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what
people are thinking in "reality." And reality has a well-known
liberal bias. “
“I believe the government that governs
best is the government that governs least. And by these standards, we have set
up a fabulous government in
“Now,
there may be an energy crisis. This President has a very forward-thinking
energy policy. Why do you think he's down on the ranch cutting that brush all the
time? He's trying to create an alternative energy source. By 2008 we will have
a mesquite-powered car! “ The rest of the transcript from this speech can be found
at: http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/30/1441/59811
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:41 AM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“We must not let the cost of a
college education prevent every academically qualified
student who wants one from getting one. That’s not the American way.”
(Mortimer B. Zuckerman,
Editor-in-Chief, U.S. News & World Report, April 24, 2006)
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
May 22,
2006
HALL OF FAME DINNER
Saturday,
May 27
FRONTIER
MOTOR INN
Reception: Frontier Atrium 5:30-6:30 P.M. Donation $10.00
We will be
serving a variety of wines from Tabor Winery in Jackson County, Iowa,
beer, soft
drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Dinner: 6:30 P.M. in the Frontier banquet hall. They will be serving family style fish or
chicken.
Donation: $25.00
This is the biggest social and fund raising event of the year for the
Clinton County Democrats. All elected
Democrats and candidates from County, State and Congressional offices will be
attending. Your contributions help the
County organization promote all Democratic candidates.
We will be honoring Democrats who have had significant success in
furthering the principles of the Democratic Party. This year we will honor the following
Democrats: POLLY BUKTA, HIGHLAND NICHOLS and EUGENE T. BURKE.
For tickets contact any member of the Central Committee who are listed on
our website or call County Chair Jean Pardee at 242-8111.
Help us expand our email list of
Democrats. Pass our newsletters along to other Democrats
and maybe they’ll send us their email addresses. So far the newsletter has helped us cement
our relationships with more than 200 party faithful by keeping them informed of
local Democratic events. All of our
events have been well attended. Our
support is growing.
Send your
email address to Dick Kissack rkissack@clinton.net
ED FALLON CAMPAIGN
GRASSROOTS EVENT
Date: Friday, May 26 Time: 7
p.m. Location: Paul/Rita Hart farm,
Ed did well in the gubernatorial debate on IPTV this weekend -- it's being rebroadcast tonight (Sunday night) at 6:00.
THIS WE BELIEVE
We support
increasing federal aid for college education through grants, scholarships, low
interest loans and forgivable loans, and restoring Pell Grant levels to 100% of
need. We support a program to forgive
the student loans for graduates who remain in
JUM NUSSLE HAS STRONG TIES TO THE
FAILURES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Jim Nussle took in over
$1.5 million with President Bush and Senator McCain headlining two major
fundraisers. Nussle has been using
Because electing Democrats
to office in
PRESIDENT GEORGE W.
BUSH HAS FAILED ON SECURITY
George
Bush doesn't have a plan for keeping us safe.
His administration has offered nothing more than stubborn ideology, rank
incompetence and outright failure. The single most important thing we can do in
government is to keep our citizens safe. Tough talk isn't enough. It takes bold
leadership and careful stewardship, but the American people are thirsting for
something more than Republicans in
In
The
hardest fact of all is this: we do not have a strategy to protect
The
American people are starting to see the administration's policies of military
preemption and stubborn ideology are not making us more secure. Only a
Democratic Senate can put a stop to these failed strategies. George Bush has lead solely through the
example of our power. It's time to start also leading through the power of our
example. With your help today, we can bring change to
HELP BUILD A STRONGER
_____ $25.00 Give ‘em
Hell Harry Good Old Boys and Girls Club
_____ $50.00 Andrew Jackson Cabinet
_____ $100.00 Thomas Jefferson Cabinet (includes a ticket
to the 2007 Hall of Fame Dinner)
CLUB MEMBERSHIPS WILL
BE AVAILABLE AT THE HALL OF FAME DINNER
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN FOR SECURITY AND PROSPERITY FOR
ALL AMERICANS
From: Richard Kissack [rkissack@cis.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 7:26 AM
To: DEMOCRATS OF CLINTON COUNTY
Subject: Clinton County Democrats' Newsletter
“It is important that the habits of
thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its
administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional
spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach
upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all
the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a
real despotism.”
[From George Washington’s Farewell Address to the Nation (1779)]
http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org
May 29,
2006
COMING EVENTS
Tuesday, June 6
Wednesday, June 7 5-7
P.M. Stewart for Senate Campaign Kickoff
Featuring Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack
Thursday, June 15
4:30-7:00 P.M. Polly Bukta’s Fund Raiser and Social
Potato
with Toppings Dinner at the
Saturday, June 17 State
Democratic Convention
Tuesday,
June 20 7:30 P.M. Clinton County Democratic Central
Committee meets.
We’ll reconvene the Clinton County Convention at
7:00
P.M. for the purpose of nominating a Democratic
Candidate for
CONGRATULATIONS to Jean Pardee and her crew of
dedicated Democratic workers for organizing another very successful Hall of
Fame Dinner for the Clinton County Democrats.
Saturday night a near capacity crowd of Democrats enjoyed a reception,
dinner and a social evening with friends of similar intelligent political
beliefs at the Frontier Motor Inn. We
appreciate all the work that Jean does and the wonderful way she presides over
our Democratic events.
THIS WE BELIEVE
We strongly urge the President and Congress to repeal or reform and fully
fund the “No Child Left Behind” Act.
States must be given flexibility in measuring schools’ progress and ways
to improve student achievement. Until
changes are made and the Act is fully funded, Federal sanctions against schools
must be suspended. (From
the Iowa First Congressional District 2006 Democratic Party platform.)
A GRIM
PICTURE--MINIMUM WAGE
(The following article
was researched and written by Mary Ann Ahrens, Waverly,
Bremer County
Democratic Party Chair, and printed in
We hear
much rhetoric by elected officials and business people on growing
It is
unconscionable that our 2006 State Legislature (and Congress) could not find it
possible to address and increase the minimum wage. Could it be that it is an
election year? Eight-six percent of
Americans strongly support a higher minimum wage according to the
With all of
the rhetoric about religious values and morals, it is a moral crime that we do
not adequately value and reward our working poor in this State. These are the
people who produce the goods and services that make it possible for businesses
to keep their doors open and earn profits.
There is also more rhetoric about the increasing level of poverty in
this state and country and the stigma associated with people in poverty…as if they were second-class citizens. Picture acting out our religious values.
We also
hear much rhetoric about employee performance issues. What some employers are
in denial about is the fact that many of their employees living on minimum wage
are hungry; do not have adequate housing, child care, transportation, or health
insurance. Hmmm! I wonder why they are
absent and not performing well? Could it
be that they or their family members are ill or
struggling
with child care or transportation issues?
Get the picture?
The current
minimum wage of $5.15 per hour leaves millions of Americans in poverty. In 2004
1.4 million more Americans slipped into poverty—now
more than 37 million. An increase in
minimum wage would benefit women and minorities more than any other group
because they are in low-wage, under- valued jobs. About 25% of minimum wage
earners are sole breadwinners in their families.
The minimum
wage has remained at $5.15 an hour since September 1, 1997. Have our costs remained the same since
1997? For eight years the value of the
minimum wage has been eroded due to inflation.
If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation since 1968 when it was
$1.60 an hour, the minimum wage would now be $8.88.
If the
state minimum wage had been raised in April of 2006, it would have benefited
132,000 Iowans. Seventy-two percent of
those workers are over the age of 20. A
comprehensive study by the Economic Policy Institute found that the 1996-97
federal minimum wage increase did not result in job losses. In fact a modest increase has no impact on
jobs. The Iowa Federation of Labor,
AFL-CIO policy recommendation in
Shouldn’t
a full time job be a bridge out of poverty and an opportunity to make a living
wage through hard work? Not all minimum
wage workers move on to higher wage jobs—and many
earn minimum or near minimum wage for many years. People who work hard should be able to
support themselves and their families in dignity.
Twenty
states (including
Is
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN
FOR SECURITY AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL AMERICANS